Chapter 3 opens as a message from God, continued from Chapter 2.
Verse 1 is a reminder from God from Deuteronomy that a man cannot remarry his ex-wife if he divorces her and then she is with another. But Judah frolics around with other gods and expects God to care for her when she's in distress.
He reminds them in verse 3 that He withheld the rains and they were unashamed and unrepentant. But now, when the enemies come, they'll claim it's God who is holding a grudge and should forgive them and save them.
I can recognize that error in thinking in myself and others. The Holy Spirit prompt us in His time and we shake off His message and go our own way; but consequences come to us, we want Him to step in during our preferred timing. If we'd listened we could have prevented the issue; but now we expect His love to outweigh our disobedience.
The voice switches away from the Lord and to Jeremiah, starting in verse 6. Jeremiah specifies this next message was from the time of good king Josiah. The Lord points out what a harlot Israel (northern tribes) played. He hoped she would return to Him, but she did not. And her sister, Judah, saw this. He sent Israel away, but Judah did not learn from it. She became an even worse harlot than Israel.
And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. Jeremiah 3:11
Well, there's a verse I never thought I'd see.
Faithless Israel
was MORE RIGHTEOUS
then treacherous Judah.
That's just so heartbreakingly sad.
Wow. Another plot twist:
Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful,
declares the Lord;
I will not be angry forever.
Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree,
and that you have not obeyed my voice,
declares the Lord. Jeremiah 3:12-13
The Lord is willing to redeem even the scattered northern tribes from the Assyrian captivity. God always gives us hope. Even as Judah is getting ready to suffer the same fate; God is calling Israel to come home and be saved. But not for nothing. They have to repent and acknowledge their iniquity. They have to return to the Lord in their hearts.
If I remember correctly, these are the lost tribes. But God knows who and where they are and He will get them home. He promises in verses 14-17 to bring them back and have shepherds to teach them. He will multiply them and increase their land. They will be centered in Jerusalem, indicating a restored, single kingdom.
This is confirmed in verse 18 when He includes Judah in the prophesy as well,coming back from the north to the land of their inheritance. Verse 19 beautifully prophesies of Israel's sons returning, restored to the Father, and not turning away again.
Unpleasantly, though, verse 20 reminds us that Judah is a treacherous woman. Now she's weeping. God's faithless son will need to repent or return and see the Lord for who He is before those hopeful prophesies can be lived.
This chapter ends with Jeremiah acknowledging the shame and humiliation of his people because they have sinned against the Lord since their youth.
So, I have to admit, and I'm guessing it is true for others, the strong rebukes, consequences, and disappointment of the Lord are the part that draw my eye and give me a visceral response. However, if you can stand back a little and curb your own fears; what is ever-present and unending is hope. He always offers a way. He always calls us home, via repentance and not consequence free, but home. To Him. Jeremiah's so emotional, it really shines through.